Today we had an early start in order to meet the tour bus taking us to the Grand Canyon - up at 5am (urgh). By 11.30 we had crossed over into Arizona to arrive at the west rim of the Grand Canyon. We queued up with about a gazillion other tourists to walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk (http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/skywalk.html), a horseshoe-shaped structure with a glass floor that swings out over the canyon. After over an hour of shuffling through the queue we slipped paper booties onto our feet and stepped onto the Skywalk. The booties are to protect the glass surface of the walk from scratches. Sadly, no cameras or mobile phones are allowed onto the structure, again to protect the glass, but have no fear, the operators of the Skywalk are happy to take your picture for you...at $30 a throw. But, seeing as this experience was a once-in-a-lifetime deal we happily shelled out for a photo.
So, I hear you ask, what was the Grand Canyon like? I was rendered speechless by the majesty of the sight. It moved me to tears. The Grand Canyon has always held a mythical quality for me, as I'm sure it has for many people, and the reality did not disappoint. It is difficult to put into words the vastness of the Canyon but I couldn't help but be awed at the power of nature. More religious-minded folk might feel closer to God upon viewing the Canyon but I just felt the timelessness and endlessness of the earth and how small and insignificant humans are in comparison. After leaving the Skywalk we took a shuttle to another part of the Canyon called Guano Point. That's right...Guano Point. Horrible name, yes, but the views of the Canyon were even more spectacular from this vantage point. I hiked down to one of the viewing platforms and took some amazing photos. The hike back up was a lot harder than I thought it would be due to the high altitude; by the time I got up the top my lungs were burning.
Sartre said that "hell is other people" and never is this sentiment more apt than when participating in bus tours with strangers. When we arrived at the Canyon our tour guide was very clear that we had to be back at the bus by 3.30pm but of course there were some idiots who either cannot tell the time or who do not care that they are inconveniencing people who are capable of following instructions. The stragglers did not show up at the bus until 4.15pm which, under ordinary circumstances, would not have caused Chris and I any great stress. But we had to be back in Vegas by 8pm to attend a show at Brad Garrett's Comedy Club at the Tropicana. The bus made it back to Vegas by 7.30pm and, thanks to a maniac local cab driver who was determined to help us make it, we pulled up at the Tropicana at 7.40pm. Phew!
We rocked up to the Comedy Club and we were the last to arrive. We had a huge stroke of luck as the manager decided to upgrade us to the VIP section, right at the front of the stage. Choice! Then Brad Garrett came on stage and started his routine; he came over and shook Chris's hand and started heckling him periodically. He was hilarious. If you ever get the opportunity to see Brad Garrett live, do it - he is filthy but he's also one of the funniest comics I've ever seen.
And that's been our Vegas experience. Sadly, tonight is our last night in the US. Tomorrow we drive back to LA in preparation for catching an evening flight back to Auckland. The entire trip has been unforgettable there's no one I would rather have shared it with than Chris. Even though we got on each other's nerves sometimes...OK, lots of times...he's been a great travelling companion and we have made lots of memories we can relive together over the coming years.
Tomorrow: back to LA and then home :(
Vxxx
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